Detachable wall covering



y 9 LICHTOR v DETACHAB LE WALL COVERING Fild A ril 24, 1939 INVENTOR. flamae/ P. L/a/zfor ATTORNEYS Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to the art of building and has for its primary object the provision of means for surfacing walls. 01' any structure in such fashion that the surfacing material is quickly removable and replaced by other covering materials without the necessity of the employment of tools or other equipment that would necessitate work of a skilled carpenter or interior decorator.

One of the important aims of this invention is to provide detachable wall covering for surfaces in structures, which wall covering might be replaced without disarranging the contents of a room or ofllce, all for the purpose of supplying means whereby walls may be newly decorated or cleaned without actually doing the work within the room itself.

Heretofore, when it became necessary to re.- decorate by way of painting, cleaning, or otherwise refinishing walls, it was necessary to actually perform the work in the room and since this caused inconvenience and precluded the use of the room being decorated, it is apparent that the instant invention might be used in overcoming such problems.

This invention is particularly useful in connection with covering the walls and ceilings of dwellings, hospitals, ofllces, show windows, and any other places where it is desirable and necessary to refinish the walls often and where the rooms or other places are rarely unoccupied long enough to permit applying several coats of paint. In the cases of show windows and hospitals, the necessity for such quick refinishing is apparent.

As a more specific object of this invention, the same contemplates the provision of unique means for detachably afllxing wall and ceiling panels in place, such means being adaptable for installation during the construction of the structure or at any time after the building has been completed and it is desired to employ such refinishing means as form a part of this invention. The accompanying drawing illustrates but a few forms of structures that might be utilized and the dis- 45 play window showing has been utilized merely for the purposes of broadly disclosing the idea. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a show window completely lined with panels that are positioned and made in ac- 50 cordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view through one oi the means for affixing the panels in place, showing it in operative position with a wall and ceiling panel.

55 Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through a fixture showing the same securing a pair of wall panels in position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through another form of securing means at the corner of the room.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the same type 5 of insert used in connection with two abutted wall panels, and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary face view of a short length of the insert shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

As hereinbefore set down, panels such as those indicated at I are removably associated with the room walls and panels II are secured to the celling of the room through the use of such means as shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive. The base of the walls of the room should be provided with a 15 bracket l2 so that the lower edge of panels I might be moved to position without manipulation of the bracket. In the instance shown, bracket i2 is merely an angle iron aflixed to the floor as shown in Fig.2. At the upper corner of the room where ceiling panels 10 and wall panels 8 meet there is provided an insert H which, in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is a screwthreaded stud having a U-shaped resilient head It thereon, the arms oi. which are arched 25 as shown to embrace an undercut rib it formed on securing strip 20. The form of strip shown in Fig. 2 is particularly adapted for use in the corners, while the form shown in Fig. 3 is employed along the walls or other places where the meeting panels are disposed in the same plane.

u-shaped head I is strong enough to securely and yieldably hold strips 20 and it is desired that the body of this strip 20 be cut as shown so that the longitudinal edges will bear directly against the adjoining panels. In thus forming the strips, there is assurance that they will be forced to position without encountering any obstruction and that the panels will be clamped in place. There may be any number of inserts ll placed along the length of strip 2t and this number will depend upon the character of panel used.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown a modified form of attaching means for the panels 8 and it. In this instance tubular insert 30 may be used either at the corner of places along the surface of the wall or ceiling without alteration. Inwardly pressed walls 32 extend throughout the length of insert ti and the angle of meeting of these walls 32 should be a right angle. Strip I4 is formed for use at the corner and strip 38 is made to hold panels I when they are in the same plane. In this instance a third element is employed in the form of a fixture 38 which has a kerfed head formed on one end, while its opposite end is provided with a cross-head I, the inner faces of which are inclined as clearly shown so that upon turning fixture 38, the associated strip 34 or 36 as the case may be, will be drawn tightly against the abutting panels. Holes 42 formed in insert 30 are long enough to receive cross-head 40 and any number of these holes might be created in the insert, but in this form of construction fixtures 38 must register with holes 42. I

Elements it are in the nature of clips, the jaws of which are resilient to spread apart when the securing strips are in the operative position. If

the panels are wide so as to necessitate a suplowing out this invention without departing from the broad spirit thereof or scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a structure having surfaces to be covered formed by the frame or body of said structure,

a plurality of panels disposed in spaced apart edge-to-edge relationand means for releasably securing said panels in place comprising a strip overlying the marginal edges of adjoining panels,

an insert, provided with an elongated hole, car- 

